Defined covalent assembly of protein molecules on graphene using a genetically encoded photochemical reaction handle.

We have created modified protein variants by introducing a non-canonical amino acid -azido-l-phenylalanine (azF) into defined positions for photochemically-induced covalent attachment to graphene. Attachment of GFP, TEM and cyt proteins was verified through a combination of atomic force and scanning tunnelling microscopy, resistance measurements, Raman data and fluorescence measurements. This method can in principle be extended to any protein which can be engineered in this way without adversely affecting its structural stability.